The Progressive Alliance of Henderson County has merged the energies and aims of its grassroots forerunners – PWH, POW, Hendersonville Huddle and Silent Vigil for Immigration Reform.
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OUR MISSION:
To connect residents of Henderson County and surrounding areas to civic engagement and activities at the grassroots level.
OUR VISION:
The Progressive Alliance of Henderson County (PAHC) compassionately advocates for justice, respect, inclusion and sustainable, healthy communities for all.
Visit our website for more photos, events, and links to like-minded groups.
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WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP?
Activism is NOT a spectator sport! Where/how do you see yourself helping?
Specific Areas to Assist PAHC
- Openers/closers for Friday Postcard Parties from 4:30-6:00 pm every Friday at Sanctuary Brewing, 147 1st Ave. E., Hendersonville. Contact Audrey Stelloh.
- FB, Snapchat, etc. Contact Neil Brown.
- Current events articles for Newsletter, FB, Website etc. Contact Nancy Brown.
- Informed Progressive Speaker series. Contact Lucy Butler.
- Rally organizing team. Contact Chris Walters.
- Social gatherings/service activities team. Contact Sheila Clendenning.
- Write Suggestion Sheet for postcards/ Research for bills pending in Congress. Contact Neil Brown.
- Voting committee. Contact Sissy Owens.
- Fundraising team. Contact Audrey Stelloh.
- Photographer. Contact Nancy Brown.
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Postcard Parties
This month's Postcard Parties are all at Sanctuary Brewing Company - 147 1st Ave. E, Hendersonville, NC from 4:30 to 6:00.
We get together every Friday: October 4th, October 11th, October 18th, October 25th, November 1st
Informed Progressive
Pam & Charlie Rogers, Project Draw Down - Wednesday October 9th, 2:00 pm at 1216 6th Avenue, Suite 500, Hendersonville.
Wednesday, October 2nd, 4:30-5:30 PM
 The Progressive Alliance of Henderson County is sponsoring a public demonstration/rally about providing legal protection to whistleblowers, and conducting a thorough and open impeachment process. On Sixth Avenue East, between Main St to Grove St.
See Rally/Protest guidelines in our sections "News You Can Use"
Silent Vigil for Immigration Reform
The purpose of the Silent Vigil for Immigration Reform is to alert and inform the public about the broken immigration system in our country and the urgent need for new immigration laws that are just, compassionate and humane. This is a particularly relevant issue at this time of ICE raids and cruel practices at our southern border. The Vigil is from 4 pm to 4:30 pm in front of the historic courthouse on the third Friday of the month. The next Vigil is October 18th, 2019.
Let’s Help Create MORE “Little Free Libraries”!
 Bring your book donations each and every Friday during October to Postcard Parties at Sanctuary Brewing, 147 1st Ave E, between 4:30 and 6 PM. Please put them in bags preferably with handles so they are easy to carry. Even better-volunteer for the next four weeks:
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Who would like to be the designated collection coordinator? (We’d most likely need a (decorated?) box for each week’s bounty, and a strong-shouldered person to tote away each week, and then deliver the books to the Times/News office on Hwy. 64 E.
The Hendersonville Times-News plans to recycle/repurpose some of its retired newspaper racks into Little Free Libraries to be placed throughout Henderson County
in an effort to expand access to books.
SEEKING: Donated books for adults, seniors and children, especially large print books. The donations will be used to create the Little Free Libraries and to refill them as needed. Please bring books to Postcard Parties through the end of October.
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Informed Progressive Series
 On Wednesday, September 11, Patsy Keever, candidate for NC Senate District 48, discussed her experience in the House of Representatives and outlined her campaign platform. Her values reflect those of the NC Constitution:
A more perfect Union - a bipartisan government which represents all the people, has bipartisan discussions and public input to consider unforeseen consequences before laws are passed.
Establish justice - laws that are fair to everyone and evenly administered.
Insure domestic tranquility - protection of our citizens from violence and abuse.
Promote the general welfare - access to health care, clean air and water, affordable housing and a living wage.
Provide for the common defense - gun safety, proper training for law enforcement officers.
She explained that based on the new district map proposed on this date, she may be drawn out of District 48. She urged participants to support Brian Caskey if this is the case. Patsy indicated that the proposed map reflects continued “packing of the district”.
On October 9 from 2:00 – 3:00 Pam and Charlie Rogers will present on Project Draw Down (The World’s leading resource for climate solutions)
Donaldson Event Space
1216 W.6th Ave. Ste. 500 (behind the Pardee Urological Building)
Hendersonville, NC 28792
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Area Events and News
Postcard Party #136
August 30, 2019
The Progressive Alliance of Henderson County had a successful Labor Day Postcard Party at Hendersonville Co-op on Friday Aug. 30th. More than 20 people attended to write postcards to state legislators about the environment, gun safety and other pending topics. Steve Woodsmall, running for Congress in NC11, dropped by and chatted with the participants about issues affecting our lives. We hope all progressively-minded citizens, no matter where you are from, will stop at Friday’s Postcard Parties anytime between 4:30 and 6 PM at Sanctuary Brewing, 147 1st Ave. E, Hendersonville.
Postcard Supplies
 Postcard Party Start-Up kits are available to other communities across the U.S.
An assortment of our current postcards can be purchased for your group to begin writing.
_______100 each of 5 different designs for $40.
_______100 each of 10 different designs for $70.
Pick up your starter supplies at any Friday Postcard Party or by appointment in Hendersonville. If you prefer, shipping costs $15 by US Postal service to anywhere in the US. Contact the Progressive Alliance of Henderson County through our website Contact button. Postcards can be viewed on the web page; however, not all are always available.
We have already provided these seed kits to groups in eastern North Carolina, South Carolina, Missouri and Tennessee. This offer allows a group to have a nice assortment of messages without the major expense of printing large quantities of postcards. All of the postcard writers say that finding like-minded people is the best part about joining a postcard party, and that postcard writing is good for people who are more introverted.
In 2018, a New York Times headline read "Writing postcards brings voters back from the edge".
Workingamerica.org. says "Postcard Parties Work”.
Statistically postcards to Get Out The Vote may only help by increasing voter turnout by 3 percent, but that might just be enough in a very close race.
Anecdotal stories support that postcards of encouragement are very much appreciated. From the Washington Post article, Jennifer Fisher, 58, who runs the Postcards for America group on Facebook, said she has received several surprising responses from employees deep within the federal government. After her group bombarded the Federal Election Commission with postcards demanding stronger protections against foreign interference, an FEC staffer sent Fisher a private message on Twitter to say their postcards were having an effect and suggesting specific targets:
“They are quite powerful,” reads a copy of their exchange. “On this matter, you’ll want to concentrate on commissioners.”
 From Climate Talk to Citizen Action
A public forum about climate change solutions for Henderson County
- WHAT: A citizen-organized forum about the state of the climate crisis and its effects in Henderson County, and what citizens, employers, farmers, nonprofits, congregations, community groups, and government at all levels can do to address its impacts effectively and systemically.
- WHEN: Sunday, October 27, 2019 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
- WHERE: Stull Hall, Grace Lutheran Church, 6th Avenue and Blythe Street, Hendersonville, NC.
- WHY: The climate crisis is becoming worse and its effects more widespread. Henderson County is not immune. Extreme weather events -- severe flooding in particular -- are increasingly common in most parts of the county. Flooding disrupts traffic, endangers public safety, ruins crops, threatens livelihoods, and damages infrastructure. Our region also is now more prone to extreme heat, prolonged droughts, forest fires, and hail storms that claim increasing tolls in lives and property.
Now is the time for everyone concerned about the climate crisis to be informed and prepared. Please join us for this important event.
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By Lee Stevens
Chris Berg
 A self-described National Park brat, Chris Berg grew up in some our nation’s most beautiful natural and historic treasures where his father served as a ranger. His National Park homes included Yellowstone, Shenandoah, and Yorktown, Virginia.
His attendance at college coincided with the Vietnam war, and it marked the beginning of his participation in politics. When he was almost finished with college, he was drafted and was stationed from 1971-73 at Okinawa, a base for bombing Vietnam. That experience cemented a dedication to causes related to peace, starting in the 1980s with activism related to first strike nuclear weapons, and continuing through today with his involvement in Veterans for Peace. This includes participation in weekly (Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:30) protests for peace at the Vance Memorial in Asheville.
After returning from Vietnam, he turned in one more paper to finish his undergraduate degree. Then, with the help of the GI Bill, he pursued his graduate education, which led to a career in county planning. During his 31 years as a redevelopment planner for Greenville County in South Carolina, he completed his MPA from Clemson University. The social conditions he saw as part of his work led him to become involved in the local homeless coalition, and he continues that involvement today by taking part in the Hendersonville area homeless coalition. In his spare time during his life in the Greenville area, he pursued a love of theater and music through participation in a Gilbert and Sullivan performing group.
After moving to Hendersonville in the early 2000s and retiring in 2011, Chris continued to pursue his interest in music through the tradition of shape-note singing. Shape note singing is a form of sacred music that originated in the 19th Century and involves harmonizing without an instrument. The group performs at area churches and community centers about 20 times per year.
Politics has also been an ongoing interest in retirement. As the third vice president of the local branch of the NAACP, he reports on politics to the group on a regular basis. He is also on the Leadership Group of the Progressive Alliance and coordinates the Democratic Discussion Club that meets at Mikes on Main on the 2nd Wednesday of each month for breakfast. This group serves as a forum for potential candidates or an opportunity to discuss organizing for political causes.
“My planning instincts keep me going,” he says, when asked how he maintains the momentum of his efforts. “Besides, there is still so much work to be done.”
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News You Can Use
 Rally/Protest Guidelines
City of Hendersonville – Ordinance for Picketing
Updated 9/25/19
- Fill out the “Notice to Picket” form from the City police department 48 hours in advance, or earlier, if you think there will be more than 50 people for a demonstration.
- Picketing may be conducted on public sidewalks, at the City Hall lawn and steps, any City-controlled park, or other City-owned areas normally used or reserved for pedestrian movement.
- Picketing MAY NOT BE conducted at a location directed, focused, or targeted at a particular private residence.
- Don’t disrupt, block, obstruct or interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic or the free passage of pedestrian or vehicular traffic into any driveway, pedestrian entrance, or other access to buildings, which abut the public sidewalks.
- Placards or signs, flags, or banners carried by individuals must allow safe and unobstructed passage of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- The staff or pole for flags or banners shall not exceed 40 inches in length and shall not be made of metal or metal alloy.
- If more than one group of picketers desire to picket at the same time at or near the same location, law enforcement officers may assign each group a place to picket in order to preserve the public peace.
- Don’t enter an area assigned to another group. Priority of location shall be based upon which group of picketers arrived first, or the group that first gave notice as provided herein.
- Don’t interfere with individuals engaged in picketing. Don’t speak fighting words or threats that would tend cause physical injury or to provoke a reasonable person to a breach of the peace.
Fletcher Town Council Primary Election
GET OUT THE VOTE
CITY ELECTIONS NOVEMBER 5, 2019
 It is that time of the year again where we ramp up to encourage registered voters to GET OUT and VOTE. We are approaching city elections on November 5, 2019.
Members have been writing a couple of sentences, and we will be sending off close to 1000 postcards for the 2019 elections.
We will be starting this effort again in January 2020. If you can offer to help with this effort by either writing some of the cards or providing a roll of postcard stamps (a roll of 100 is $35). All involvement is appreciated.
WE CAN WIN!
Citizen Advisory Committees
 We can do these things, please apply for an advisory board position. We have the applications or get them online.
Lucy Butler, one of our members, is on the Environmental Advisory Board for Henderson County.
The Environmental Advisory Board was developed to advise the Henderson County Board of Commissioners on matters related to environmental quality (recycling, storm water quality, sustainability, composting, etc.) There are 9 members appointed by the Commissioners and terms are 2 years (maximum of 2 years). Lucy is serving her second year.
The EAC meets the first Thursday of every other month at 3:00 p.m. in the King Street Meeting room at 100 North King Street, unless changed by a quorum of the voting members of the committee.
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Some people don’t look.
Some look, but don’t see.
Some see, but don’t act.
Some people act.
. . . Anon
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The PAHC core leadership group (currently Liz Agnello, Chris Berg, Nancy & Neil Brown, Lucy Butler, Sheila Clendenning, Julia Luellen, Laura Miklowitz, Sissy Owen, Audrey Stelloh and Chris Walters) working together diligently to strengthen our impact, has created mission and vision statements for the group.
Please speak to any of us if you can offer your ideas and time about the future of Henderson County.
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